Neck-yoke snap.



No. 685,766. Patented Sept. 3, 190:. E. J. WILLIAMS.

NECK YOKE SNAP.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

YHE NORRIS PETERS C with mares Arnr FMCE.

ELMER JOSEPH WILLIAMS, OF WEST SUPERIOR, ISOONSIN.

NECK-YOKE SNAP.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,766, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed April 9, 1901. Serial No. 55,087- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER JOSEPH WIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Neck-Yoke Snap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a harness attachment, and particularly to a device for application to a double harness; and the object of the same is to provide simple and effective means for connecting up a neck-yoke and quarter-strap and for efficiently holding up the neck-yoke and pole, the improved device being adapted for reversible use and in its use facilitates the connection and disconnection of the parts of harness referred to.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the improved device applied.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a body, which has a slot 2 extending completely across one end and inclosed by end bars 3 and a side bar 4., the opposite extremity of the body at the center having a hook 5, which is returned or extended thereover a suitable distance to assist in forming a snap-hook. On opposite sides of the body are outwardly-inclined slots 6, one on each side, the opposite sides of the body being formed as bars 7 to serve as bearings for the straps, which engage the said slots 6. Through the center of the body 1 adjacent to the slot 2 a forwardly-inclined slot 8 is formed and opens into a recess 9 on the rear side of said body, and mounted in the said slot Sis the forwardly-inclined end 10 of a flat spring 11, said end 10 being secured by a rivet passed therethrough and the body, the recess 9 making the riveting operation easily accomplished. The body 1 in advance of the slot 8 is formed with an outstanding stop 12, and adjacent the end 10 the spring is formed with an elliptical or similar loop 13, the remaining portion of the loop being shaped to extend upwardly and bear against the inner side of the terminal of the hook 5. The function of the stop 12 is to check too great com pression of the spring toward the body and breakage of the same, particularly when chilled, and the loop 13 operates to relieve the spring from breaking tendency, so that the spring can be compressed or moved toward the body sufficiently to open the hook with out fear of fracture. The entire device except the spring and rivet is of integral construction and will be formed of suitable material and may be either cast or struck up from malleable metal. The spring end 10, disposed at the angle set forth, also avoids the formation of all sharp or abrupt angles and prevents fracture from readily ensuing.

In the use of the improved device it is to be applied to double harness on either side and is reversible for this purpose, and considering, for the purpose of illustration, the

double harness from the left side of either horse or other animal, the forward extremity of the breeching 14 is passed through the slot 2 and turned back and buckled. The hook 5 is connected to the twin neck-yoke ring 15, and to the adjacent slot 6 another separate strap 16, leading from a hame-ring, is passed and turned back and buckled. The slots 6 are outwardly inclined or angularly disposed, as shown, to cause the straps engaging these slots to act to keep up the twin neck-yoke end. In using the improved device on the other side of the horse or other animal the other slot 6 (shown unoccupied) is engaged and that now shown occupied is left unengaged. The improved device replaces and obviates the use of a number of attaching devices, and thus materially reduces the cost of harness and the trouble of attaching or detaching the said devices. The form of the spring shown also operates to distribute or place a part of the strain on the part thereof directly compressed,and therebytake off some of the strain from the loop thereof.

The improved device will be found exceptionally useful and convenient and advantageous in its application.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. A device of the class set forth comprising a body with an intermediate solid portion having a transversely-extendin g straight slot at its upper end, downwardly-diverging slots at opposite sides, a portion integral with the center of the lower edge which is turned upwardly over the body at the center to form a hook, an upper forwardly and upwardly inclined slot, and a fiat spring having an upper downwardly and rearwardly inclined end to engage the latter slot, said spring having a free end movably engaging the upper terminal of the hook.

2. A device of the class set forth compris- 

